Para. 39 and 44 - Statement by Stop Killer Robots to the GGE on LAWS, 31 August - 4 September

The following statement was delivered on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, by Rym Badran to delegates participating in the meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), which took place on 31 August to 4 September 2026.

Thank you, Chair.

Regarding the remaining paragraphs in the report:

The sub-paragraphs of the paragraphs numbered 39 and 44 in the draft report address some of the core components of meaningful human control – which are that users must have an adequate functional understanding of systems, and must sufficiently limit their operation and effects. 

We welcome that the key concepts of predictability, reliability, traceability and explainability have been reinstated to the set of elements in paragraph 39 – 40 on your screen – and the Chair’s suggestions for further clarifications on what should be required. These concepts have been central to discussions on the means by which meaningful human control can be achieved, and must be retained.

Points a) to c) of paragraph 44 – 45 on your screen – address the need for users to have an adequate functional understanding of systems, to exercise meaningful human control and ensure responsibility and accountability are upheld. 

All these elements must be retained in the text, to give a basis for negotiating international rules on maintaining meaningful human control in the use of force that goes beyond simply restating the text of existing law.

Regarding paragraphs 40 and 41 in the draft report – now 41 and 42, having discussed and developed their understanding of the different types of bias that raise concerns when it comes to autonomous weapons systems, states should be sure to retain these elements as a starting point for a deeper consideration of the rules that are needed to respond to them. 

When it comes to algorithmic bias and the reproduction and reinforcement of structural discrimination such as sexism, racism, and ableism, part of the international response must be a prohibition on autonomous weapons systems that target people.

Finally, we welcome the suggestion from the Chair to move what was paragraph 37 in the draft report to the end of the text as paragraph 48, to clarify that the whole set of elements should be taken into account across design, development and use.

Thank you, Chair.